Mullanpur, India—On Tuesday, Sunrisers Hyderabad survived a late onslaught from Punjab Kings, who were chasing a stiff target of 183, to secure a dramatic two-run victory in a pulsating IPL encounter at the Maharaja Yadvendra Singh Stadium.

Chasing a stiff target of 183, Punjab looked down and out at 114/5 before a defiant sixth-wicket stand between Shashank Singh (46* off 25) and Ashutosh Sharma (33* off 21) threw the cat amongst the pigeons. The duo stitched together an unbeaten 66-run partnership, taking Punjab to the brink of victory. However, they fell agonizingly short, leaving their teammates heartbroken.

Earlier, Hyderabad, put into bat, rode on a brilliant knock from Nitish Reddy (64 off 37) to post a competitive 182/9. Reddy smashed five sixes and four boundaries in a whirlwind innings, rescuing Hyderabad from a precarious position. Openers Abhishek Sharma (16) and Abdul Samad (25) provided handy contributions at the top, while a late cameo from Shahbaz Ahmed (14*) ensured a decent total on the board.

Punjab’s bowlers fought back admirably, with Arshdeep Singh (4/29) leading the charge. Sam Curran (2/23) and Harshal Patel (2/31) chipped in with crucial wickets, but their efforts were ultimately in vain as Hyderabad held their nerve in a tense finish.

This win takes Hyderabad to fifth in the IPL standings with six points from five matches, while Punjab, with just two points from as many games, remains sixth. The victory will be a huge confidence booster for the Sunrisers, while Punjab will be left to rue their missed opportunities.